Welcome to the Season 4 finale of Mads World! I am bloody thrilled to be joined by Iona David, creator of @Beam_Me_Up_Softboi.

This week for our season finale, we are investigating all things Softbois. If you aren't currently dating or putting yourself through the trials of dating apps, you might be wondering what a Softboi is.

In an interview with The Guardian, my next guest Iona David describes Softbois as alternative and emotionally expoitative with a superiority complex.

She says; "There’s a softboi spectrum. At one end, it’s just anyone who has any unique or alternative interests that make them feel superior to other people. At the other end is quite hardcore emotionally manipulative men who use these interests to really mess about with women or men. But there’s so many people in between on the spectrum so there’s no one real definition."

Owner of the iconic Instagram page Beam Me Up Softboi, Iona created the page a few years ago to curate the best dating app, DM and text message screenshots from around the world of Softboi shenanigans. It has since gained a cult following of over 627,000 people and has become a classic part of modern dating culture.

Apart from her passion for writing, Iona enjoys trashy sitcoms, sad music, cured meat, trash beach novels and supermarkets.

You can read more from Iona here:

Submit your dating questions through madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Click here to support the show for the price of a coffee.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say hellowie to Season 4, Episode 9 of Mads World: I'm Not Superstitious, But I Am A Little Stitious.

In the midst of all the COVID conspiracy theories, I've been thinking a lot about other superstitions and conspiracies swirling around. Does lip balm really dry out your lips more so you have to buy more lip balm? Is America run by shape-shifting lizard people? Did Bush do 9/11?

In this episode, I am joined by the gorgeous sasspot Harriet Stirrup to chat about all of our favourite superstitions and conspiracies, alongside your best submissions. You might remember Harriet from both Episodes 3 and 15, where we chatted about Dating Apps and the Bad Boy phenomenon. She's passionate about good food alongside better company, and she's a bloody weapon. Enjoy!

Submit your dating questions through madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Click here to support the show for the price of a coffee.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say hellowie to Season 4, Episode 8 of Mads World: Egg Freeze & Share: Donating Your Eggs with Laura Clark.

This week on Mads World, I am joined by Laura Clark, a friend of mine who is currently undergoing the Egg Freeze & Share program through the London Egg Bank. We chat about the stigma of donating your eggs, the process itself, the emotions involved in the experience and everything to be considered if you are thinking of proceeding with egg donation.

Laura has been living in London for 9 years having moved from New Zealand. She’s a complaints specialist for a FinTech start-up and in her spare time, when she’s not playing netball or exploring London, she’s a writer and an actress who will be performing in a play she’s written next year called “The Price of Life".

I'd like to flag prior to our chat that neither Laura or myself are professionals in this space and this episode is based on personal experience and opinion. You should consult your GP or The London Egg Bank if you're looking for further advice.

Submit your dating questions through madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Click here to support the show for the price of a coffee.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say hellowie to Season 4, Episode 7 of Mads World: That Awkward Moment with Pip Ako!

Back due to popular demand, I am joined this week by my good friend Pip. Pip is passionate about championing diversity in the media landscape, reality TV and West Ham United. Big up any West Ham fans listening. 

You guys have submitted the most embarrassing things that have ever happened to you, and for your listening pleasure, I’m going to read through them all in this episode with the lovely Pip or as I call her, Philpo. Enjoy!

Submit your dating questions through madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Click here to support the show for the price of a coffee.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say hellowie to Season 4, Episode 6 of Mads World: Solid Advice II with Nora Sewuster!

You guys have been asking for some advice on your love and life dilemmas, and this week I am joined once again by my friend Nora who is an intelligent, empathetic and pragmatic queen.

Nora works in tech sales and is a fully qualified NLP life coach, making her the perfect person to help me answer all your burning questions. 

She is passionate about female empowerment and female mentoring schemes within corporate firms. In 2020 she completed an executive program at Cambridge University on female leadership. Outside work, she plays hockey and loves open-water swimming. She grew up in the Netherlands but has also lived in Belgium and Indonesia. Here we go!

Submit your dating questions through madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Click here to support the show for the price of a coffee.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say hola to Season 4, Episode 5 of Mads World. Matthew's Mum: TikTok Fame & Dating with Luke Hamnett!

As you will all know, TikTok has blown up over the last couple of years thanks to the pandemic. Normal people have been thrust into the spotlight for sharing the weirdest things, and becoming famous overnight is now a reality.

This happened to my next guest, Luke Hamnett, whose passion for making people laugh has his videos being seen by millions. Luke’s character for his TikToks, Matthew’s Mum, a typical mum from up north, is his most popular and I am joined by him up next to chat about all things TikTok fame and dating.

Submit your dating questions through @madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Click here to support the show for the price of a coffee.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say hellooo to Season 4, Episode 4 of Mads World. My Type on Paper: Female Empowerment, Sexuality and Dating with Sharon Gaffka.

This week I am joined by Sharon Gaffka, who starred in the latest season of Love Island in 2021. Before her journey in the villa, Sharon was a civil servant for the Department of Transport in the UK, as well as a former beauty queen. She was also Miss International UK in 2018. 

Sharon is passionate about female empowerment, and there were times in the villa when other islanders were intimidated by her career ambitions. She also had a discussion about her sexuality, and her experiences dating as a mixed-race woman in the UK, which ITV chose not to air. 

Up next you’ll hear my chat with Sharon all about her time on Love Island, as well as her perspectives on modern expectations of women, sexuality and the stigma of bisexuality, and dating as a mixed-race woman in the UK.

Submit your dating questions through @madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say g'day to Season 4, Episode 3 of Mads World! I've Got A Text: Love Island & Millie Court with her bestie Ryan Lloyd!

I hope you have all been watching Love Island as closely as I have this season, because I am lucky enough to be joined for this episode by Ryan Lloyd: Millie Court's best friend who is currently running her Insta account while she’s in the villa. Millie has been the UK’s favourite islander this year, coupled up with Welsh Liam Reardon.

Ryan and Millie met in school and bonded over their love for all things fashion, and he’s an absolutely gorgeous guest. Up next you’ll hear our chat on what it’s been like running Millie’s IG, watching her on TV every night, his thoughts on Millie & Liam as a couple, how Millie found out she was entering the villa, what’s next for her and more!

Submit your dating questions through @madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Say hi to Season 4, Episode 2 of Mads World! Going the Distance: Long Distance Relationships with Lexi Holt.

In this episode, we are discussing Long Distance Relationships, and I am joined by my gorgeous friend Lexi Holt.

Lexi used to work in London at a media agency where we first met through a Netball team I played in twice, and now has moved to Amsterdam to go client side at adidas where she’s been just over a year now. Aside from working in digital marketing, Lexi is also an F45 trainer over there; a dream come true as she lives and breathes the workouts!

She enjoys lots of exercise, including boxing where she was 1 week out of her first white-collar charity match in London in 2020 when COVID came along. Soon to participate in the London marathon, Lexi loves getting in the mix for any sport imaginable.

She’s been in a long-distance relationship for just under 2 months, before which she was in isolation with her boyfriend. More to follow in our chat!

Submit your dating questions through madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93

Welcome back to Season 4, Episode 1 of Mads World! A Bit of a Stretch: Prison Sex & Relationships with Chris Atkins.

This week I am joined by journalist, podcaster, documentary filmmaker and best-selling author, Chris Atkins. 

Chris went to prison for tax fraud in 2016, and spent 9 months in HMP Wandsworth, one of the most dangerous and dysfunctional prisons in the UK. His book about his time in Wandsworth, A Bit of a Stretch, is available now and is a shocking, hilarious and heartbreaking recount of prison life. 

You can also listen to his podcast with the same name, featuring testimonies of other prisoners, highlighting a collapsing system that is failing both victims and wider society.

Up next you will hear our chat about how sex and relationships function in prison alongside some of Chris’ funniest anecdotes of his time in both HMP Wandsworth and open prison HMP Ford.

Submit your dating questions through madsworld.mp3, and my guests and I will answer them on the show in our Left On Read segment! You will remain anonymous.

All names have been changed unless explicitly said so within the show.

Cover Art: Veredien

Music: The.Jones.Project_93